Cosmetic container



Oct. 16, 1956 R. B. HoPGooD 2,755,876

oosMETlc CONTAINER Filed Jan. 29, 1955 FIG. l. FIG. 2.

,j FIG. 3.

INVENToR. R055?? 1Y0/6000 United States Patent Office 2,766,876 PatentedOct. 16,

cosMErIc CONTAINER Robert B. Hopgood, Cheshire, Conn., assignor to TheEyelet Specialty Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of ConnecticutApplication January 29, 1953, Serial No. 333,943

12 Claims. (Cl. 20G-456) My invention relates to constructions forcosmetic or the like containers and, in particular, to those carrying aplurality of lipsticks or the like, to be selectively projected for use.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved constructions ofthe character indicated, wherein projection is -to be eected through oneend of the device.

It is another object to provide common propulsion means for two carriersin a device of the character indicated.

It is another object to provide propulsion means for two carrierswhereby, for a single direction of advance of an actuating member, onecarrier may be propelled inwardly while the other is propelled outwardlyand, thereafter, the said one may be propelled outwardly while the otheris propelled inwardly.

A further object is to provide an improved cam ccnstruction for a deviceof the character indicated, whereby maximum propulsive advance peractuating turn is achieved when a carrier is near the outwardlyprojected position, while minimum advance per turn is achieved when acarrier is near the inwardly retracted position.

Another object is to provide common means for preventing inadvertentpropulsion of two independently propelled carriers when a closure cap isin place.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention willbe pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a readingof the following specification, in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only,preferred forms of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a container incorporatingfeatures of the invention and with the parts shown in retractedcondition, the container being closed by a removable closure cap;

Fig. 2 is a simplified side view of the device of Fig. l, showing therelationship of parts when one of the carriers has been propelled;

Fig. 3 is .an enlarged transverse sectional view taken in the plane 3--3of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a carrier as employed in the device ofFig. l;

Fig. 4A is a view similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating a a slightmodication;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a lower part of thecontainer of Fig. 2, and with certain elements broken away to reveal asafety feature of the construction.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an alternativecosmetic-container construction incorporating features of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a carrier employed in the device of Fig.6; and

Figs. 8, 9, and l0 are transverse sectional views illustrating furtheralternative constructions of the invention.

Briey stated, my invention contemplates an improved construction lendingitself particularly for use in cosmetic containers wherein two lipsticksor the like are to be available for selective use at one end of thedevice, and my invention resides in providing common propulsion meansfor the two carriers. In one form, the arrangement ofthe commonpropulsion means is such that for a single direction of movement of thecommon propulsion means one carrier may iirst be moved outwardly whilethe other is retracted and then, without any change of direction ofactuating movement, the said one carrier may be retracted while the saidother carrier is propelled. In another form, the actuating directionmust be reversed in order to change the direction of movement of aparticular carrier. 'Several alternative employments of the commonpropulsion means with respect to the carriers will be described. I

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, my invention is shown inapplication -to a cosmetic container providing common propulsion meansfor the selective propulsion and retraction of two lipsticks or the like10-11. The lipsticks 10-11 may be held in separate carrier members12-13, which I have shown cup-shaped in moreor less conventional manner.The carrier members 12-13 .may be supported in suitable guide means14-15 within case means 16. The case means 16 happens to be shown as ofmolded-plastic construction and may be in essentially. one piece,providing -the guide means 14-'15 at cylindrical bores open at the upperend of the container, and with base means 17 closing the other end ofthe bores. The base 17 may be characterized by a peripherally extendingshoulder 1S to receive abutment of a closure cap 19 when in place and,if desired, small nibs 20 may be formed at opposite locations on thebody 16 and projecting outwardly into intercepting relation with theclosure cap 19, so as to provide an adequate friction grip to maintain'the closure cap in place, as will be understood, l

In accordance with a feature ofthe invention, I provide commonpropulsion means for both carriers 12-13. Such propulsion means maycomprise two relatively rotatable members, with follower means reactingagainst a cam carried by one of these rotatable members to propel eachcarrier. In the form shown, the cam is formed on'a rotatable member 21journalled in the body 16 on an axis offset from the propulsion axes ofboth carriers 12-13.l The cam member 21 is shown characterized by twothreads 22--23 having opposite directions of advance and yet axiallycoextensive and smoothly and continuously joined at opposite ends, asshown clearly at. the upper end 24 in Fig. l. The threads 22-23 yarethus, in effect, a single continuous thread with one stretch Wound backand in' j overlapping relation with the other stretch. For a purposewhich will later be clear, the threaded advance per turn for threads22-23 is preferably relatively shortat the lower or bottom end of cammeans 21, and is relatively great at the upper or open end of thecontainer, as will be evident upon inspection of Fig. l. 4

The cam means 21 may be received in a bore 25 (Fig. 3) in the body 16and may be journalled in a bridg26 at the upper or open end, and in thebase 17 at the lower end. An actuating knob 27 may be staked orotherwise secured to the projecting end of the cam means 21' and may bereceived in a recess 23 in the base 17. In Fig, 2` recess 28 is shown tohave outwardly flaring walls 28 open to the lateral sides of the base17, for easier finger` access to knob 27. l

To permit propulsive action, the cam bore 25 may conlmunicate separatelywith both carrier bores 14-15by way of channels defined respectively byshoulders 29-30. Cam followers 31--32 carried by the respectiveYcarriers 12-13 may thus project through the channels 29- 3 0 intoseparate engagement with the respective stretches,

22-23 of the cam means and, if desired, the camfol@ lowers may be of awidth to slide along (for reaction.

against) the shoulders 29-30 of the channels. However, in the formshown, I illustrate my preference Afor vproviding reaction guide meanscarried by the respective carl rier members 12-13 independently of thecam-follower?.

Vance. In Fig. 3, Iillustrate that the cam-follower shank may besupported in, spaced bosses 37--38 formed at diametrically oppositelocations and out of the cylindrical body of the carrier v13;alternatively, vin Fig. 4, I illustrate a slightly diierentconstructionwherein pivot bosses 37-38 are struck out of the base of thecarrier member and provide transversely aligned support for the shank 35of a similar cam follower.

In operation, whichever the manner of supporting the pivoted carriermember, it will be understood that if the `carriers 12-13 are initiallyassembled with an equal number of turns of the cam means to either endof the cam means, then upon knob actuation at 27 in a single di-Vrection, say counterclockwise as viewed from the bottom,

the carrier 13 will be propelled while the carrier 12 is furtherretracted, until a point of maximum propulsion for the carrier 13 andmaximum retraction of carrier 12 will occur, as illustrated in Fig. 2.Upon continued knob actuation in the same (counterclockwise) direction,the pivoted cam followers will be caused to change their slope, and thecarrier 13 will be retracted while the carrier 12 is propelled. Ifdesired, this propulsion may be stopped when the Vcarriers are alignedas in Fig. l, or, if desired, the same actuation may be continued so asto elfect a full propulsion of carrier 12 and a full retraction ofcarrier l13. Continued rotation of knob 27 in the same direction willreturn the parts to the relation shown in Fig. l, and it will beunderstood that equally smooth selective operation of the carriers maybe achieved for the opposite (clockwise) direction of knob actuation.

' Ordinarily, I prefer that the number of half-turns of each of the camthreads 22-23 shall be an odd number, as. for example the nine(9X1/2=41/2 turns) shown. This relationship will assure that when thecarriers level up, as in Fig. l, they will always level up in the sameretracted position, whether leveling is accomplished upon retraction ofcarrier 12 or upon retraction of carrier 13, for the same direction ofrotation of knob 27.

In Fig. 4A, I illustrate an alternative cup construction wherein washermeans 39 is rotatably carried on the shaft 35' of the cam-followermeans, the washer 39 being of a' fdiametral span to permit guidingclearance with the opposite walls of a particular channel 29-30, and torolltherealong in order to derive the desired reactionfor'lcarrier-propulsion purposes. This construction lwill be'lseeu toavoid a manufacturing operation in the formation ofthe carrier -cup 12',at the expense of an assembly operation involved in placing the washer39 on the shaft 35'.

As a safety feature, and to prevent inadvertent propulsion of a lipstickor 11 against the inside of the closure cap 19 when the'closure cap isin place, I may provide cooperating frictionally engaging parts,projections, or dogs, between the closure cap and a part carried withthe kh'ob 2 7, s uch parts beingengaged, of course, only when theclosure cap is in place.

inner*` part thereof may directly frictionallyengage the 2,1.tonresistpfopulsion f either carrier.

*A However, in Fig. 5, I illus-I trater'ny preference forforming a partof the body 16V InrFigs. 6 and 7 I illustrate a modified containerconstruction wherein propulsion of one carrier and retraction of theother carrier' 51 is always eifected upon a particular direction ofactuation of a propulsion knob 52. The common propulsion means forproducing this result may include asingle cam 53 generally resemblingthat of Fig. l, but characterized by separate threads 54-55 which do notsmoothly join at their respective ends. There is, thus, no need to havethe cam followers (as at 56 for the carrier 50, and at 57 for thecarrier 51) reverse at any time and, therefore, such cam followers 56-57may be formed by striking directly out of the material of the carrier50. However, to promote smooth action at the crossover points fortherespective threads 54-55, I prefer that the follower 56 shall beelongated in the direction of threaded advance, as shown in Fig. 7; and,if desired, the limits 56' of such follower 56 may serve as guide meansreacting against the channels'or shoulders 58, for propulsion purposes.With a fixed follower of the type shown in Fig. 7, it becomes necessaryto maintain the pitch or threaded advance per turn on the cam 53substantially constant, but if pivotal followers of the type describedin connection with Fig, l are employed, then the pitch of the threadsnear the bottom end of the container may be shorter than that of thosenear the open end, and an overall saving in length of the container maybe effected, as will be understood.

In Fig. 8, I illustrate another arrangement wherein common propulsionmeans serve the carriers for two lipsticks 60-61. The common propulsionmeans may comprise a single threaded member 62 journaledin the body 63of the container and generally resembling either the cam means 21 ofFig. 1, or the cam means 53 of Fig. 6, but being accommodated in a bore64 displaced off the line of centers for propulsion of the two carriers60-61, thus permitting the two carriers to be placed closer together andreducing the overall width requirements for the construction. As in thecase of Fig. 3, the central bore 64 may be joined to the bores for thecarriers 60-61 by channel means 66-67 against which Vpropulsive elementsmay react, as will be understood.

In Fig. 9, I illustrate another configuration employing non-circularlipsticks and carriers, but still utilizing com- Y and supported insimilarly oval carriers guided in ovalV guide bores in the body 71.Because of the non-circular cross-section of the carriers, there is nonormal tendency for both carriers.

for the carriers to rotate in their respective bores and,

therefore, no particular reaction guide means need be. Thus,`

formed in, nor carried by, the respective carriers. pivoted followermeans 74vmay provide all the necessary connection to the propulsionmeans 70.

In Fig. l0, I illustrate still another modified form e111-,Y

ments 83-84 are provided for the propulsion of each;

carrier and, therefore, only a single direction of threaded advance needcharacterize the cam formation on;

each of the elements 83-84. This fact will be seen to simplify therequirements for thecam-follower con-V struction so that, in each case,the cam-follower need,

only be a lug or other simple projection formed in or carried by acarrier member. YSeparate knobs 86-,87- may be provided for independentactuation of the re-,

spective cams 83-84, thereby in effect providing two independentpropulsion systems in the same contain# er. However, in the form shown,I illustrate my preference for means coordinating the action of thesepropulsion systems, thus providing common propulsion means To effectthis purpose, both cams S3v-84A may be duplicatesof each other, that is,having threads advancing in the same directionY (as, forv a'reasveexample, right-handed threads), and the actuating knobs 86-87 may beformed as meshing pinions, whereby upon actuating either one of theknobs 86-87, the cams 8.3-84 will be rotated in opposite directions, andone lipstick will be propelled outwardly while the other is furtherretracted.

It will be seen that l have disclosed a relatively simple and ingeniousmeans for selectively propelling and retracting a particular one of twolipsticks or the like in a cosmetic container. This result is achievedwith fewer parts than would be required in a container involving twoindependent propulsion systems, and the action is foolproof.

While I have described my invention in detail for the preferred formsshown, it will be understood th'at modications may be made within thescope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a container of the character indicated, two carrier members, casemeans including separate guide means for said carrier members, commonpropulsion means for said carrier members and including a rotatablemember journalled in said case means, a closure cap slidably receivedover said case means, and movable means formed out of the body of saidcase means and projecting into intercepting relation with said closurecap, said movable means including a part radially adjacent a part ofsaid rotatable member, so that upon placement of said closure cap, saidmovable means will be displaced, said movable means being engaged withsaid rotatable member upon closure cap-actuated displacement of saidmovable means.

2. In a container of the character indicated, two cylindrical carriercups adapted to support stick cosmetic projecting axially ofcorresponding ends of said cups, case means having two laterally spacedcylindrical guide bores for said cups, said bores being closed at oneend of said container and open at the other end for projection of stickcosmetic out said other end, cam means including elongated overlappingright-hand and left-hand threads laterally offset from and generallybetween the axes of said guide bores and journalled for rotation in saidcase means, said case means having a further bore to accommodate saidcam means and elongated channels communicating between said bores,cam-following connections between said threads and said carrier cups,and guide means carried by each. of said carrier cups and projectinginto one of said channels for sliding engagement with a wall of saidchannel; said guide bores being suiciently elongated and said cups beingso engaged to said cam means as to accomplish retraction of both cupsloaded with stick cosmetic for one position of said cam means, and so asto accomplish full propulsion of one cup to the exclusion of propulsionof the other cup for a second position of said cam means, and so as toaccomplish full propulsion of said other cup to the exclusion ofpropulsion of said one cup for a third position of said cam means.

3. A container according to claim 2, in which for each carrier saidguide means is formed out of the cylindrical carrier body and includesabutments spaced substantially by the width of the adjacent channel forsliding reacting engagement with either wall of said channel, dependingupon the direction of propulsion of said carrier.

4. A container according to claim 2, in which for each carrier saidguide means includes a washer pivotally carried on a side of saidcarrier.

5. A container according to claim 2, in which for each carrier saidcarrier includes cam-follower means integrally formed out of thecylindrical body of said carrier member, and in which said guide meansis dened by' transverse limits of said cam-follower means.

6. A container according to claim 2, in which each said cam-followingconnection to a particular cup comprises a pin journalled indiametrically aligned bosses formed out of the bottom of said particularcup.

7. In a container of the character indicated, two cylindrical carriercups adapted to support stick cosmetic projecting axially ofcorresponding ends of said cups, case means having two laterally spacedguide bores for said cups, said bores being closed at one end of saidcontainer and open at the other end for projection of stick cosmetic outsaid other end, cam means substantially longitudinally coextensive withsaid bores and including elongated overlapping right-hand and left-handthreads laterally offset from and generally between the axes of saidguide bores and journalled for rotation in said case means, each of saidguide bores having a longitudinally extending slot therein adjacent saidcam means, cam-following connections between said threads and saidcarrier cups and passing through said slots, and externally accessiblemanual actuating means for said cam means; said guide bores beingsu-fliciently elongated and said cups being so engaged to said cam meansas to accomplish retraction of both cups loaded with stick cosmetic forone position of said cam means, and so as to accomplish full propulsionof one cup to the exclusion of propulsion of the other cup for a secondposition of said cam means, and so as to accomplish full propulsion ofsaid other cup to the exclusion of propulsion of said one cup for athird position of said cam means.

8. A container according to claim 7, in which said actuating meansincludes a knob externally accessible at a locally recessed part of theclosed end of said case means.

9. A container according to claim 7, in which both said threads arecharacterized by relatively short advance per turn and by relativelylong advance per turn at corresponding ends.

10. A container according to claim 7, in which said threads arecontinuously joined to each `other at their respective ends, whereby forcontinuous rotation of said cam means in the same direction, one of saidcarrier cups may be propelled outwardly while the other is propelledinwardly and, thereafter, the said one may be propelled inwardly whilethe said other is propelled outwardly.

11. A container according to claim 7, in which the axis of said cammeans is substantially on the line of centers of symmetry for saidcarrier cups.

l2. A container according to claim 7, in which said cam means isdisplaced to one side of the line of centers of symmetry of said carriercups, whereby the spacing between carrier cups may be minimized.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 396,469Costigan Jan. 22, 1889 1,549,264 Nealon Aug. 11, 1925 1,664,071 FuredyMar. 27, 1928 1,664,166 Furedy Mar. 27, 1928 1,675,365 McAtree July 3,1928 1,994,074 Kendall Mar. l2, 1935 2,104,902 Morrison Jan. 11, 19382,159,872 Younghusband May 23, 1939 2,352,448 Reichenbach Jan. 27, 19442,476,866 Heyman July 19, 1949 2,504,490 Broder Apr. 18, 1950 2,519,502Rem Aug. 22, 1950 2,626,047 Crane Ian. 20, 1953

